December 19, 2016

In “Before the Dawn,” Kate Bush Casts Her Spell Again

More magic from a uniquely idiosyncratic singer.


Kate Bush
Before the Dawn
Concord Records

Courtesy of Concord Music Group

Recorded during her run of 22 sold-out London shows in 2014, Before the Dawn captures the always-engaging, occasionally perplexing Kate Bush in fine form. The grandiose live production wasn’t a mere concert, but an ambitious multi-media presentation centered on two suites: “The Ninth Wave,” the story of a woman lost at sea, and “A Sky of Honey,” evoking a summer’s day. If that all sounds a bit precious, worry not—the music on the three-CD, 29-track epic is gorgeous orchestral pop that beautifully showcases Bush’s richly dramatic vocals, regardless of its literal meaning. This uniquely idiosyncratic singer has been making serious magic for nearly four decades, inspiring Björk, Tori Amos, and a host of others along the way, and it’s a true pleasure to fall under her spell once again.

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